Rink Not Built For Hockey

Did you ever think you would make plans to attend a hockey game and prior to the start it was cancelled?

Such was the case when an international “Friendly” hockey game that was supposed to feature Canada playing the US was  over in a flash.

The game promoter had sold around 10,000 tickets and it was billed as the first outdoor game in the Southern Hemisphere.

Canada and the US are “down under” playing a series of exhibition games in Australia and New Zealand with both teams comprising of AHL players or from other teams and/or leagues.

It was reported that Rene Bourque was set to play for Canada as well as Canucks minor league goaltender Richard Bachman were to lace-em up.

It’s reported that the first game went with no issues, but the next one was a disaster for not only the fans but also those at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.

The stadium is the home to Rugby and Cricket, but from the start as reported nothing went right as first the refrigeration system broke down that cancelled the warm-up.

With the game  being postponed it was then moved to Sunday and played at noon – but then the winds picked up and blew over a section of the boards.

When this happened – it was game over before it even started, but as it goes “you can’t fool with Mother Nature” and in this case that’s a true fact.

Stadium CEO Steve Harmon mentioned “It’s the most challenging event that I’ve been involved with in 20 years in this industry and the first we’ve had to cancel in the stadium’s 18 year history.

It’s mentioned Wellington sits at the most southern edge and thereby creates somewhat of a tunnel with the winds becoming faster and stronger.

As one would expect everyone that purchased a ticket will get a full refund as long as the wind never blew the ticket stub away.